Colm stood amidst the silence as the onslaught came to a halt. Each blow he had taken had stoked the flames of his fury, but now, with the calm settling in, the anger bled away.

He took a step forward and roared, casting the last of it out with a guttural cry. Breathing heavily, he looked down. Bodies upon bodies lay sprawled beneath him.

"I've killed so many," he thought. "These were once people. What am I becoming?"

He stared at his hands, the weight of the question anchoring him in place.

A flicker in the corner of his vision pulled him from the haze. Notifications hovered, waiting. He scrolled through them absently, his mind still adrift in blood and regret.

Undead Berserker (Level 122) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Undead Walker (Level 32) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

Undead Walker (Level 12) Defeated. No Experience Gained.

…

Undead Berserker (Level 140) Defeated. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

New class abilities available.

Wavebound Surge (Level 8) has increased to Wavebound Surge (Level 9).

Wavebound Surge (Level 9) has increased to Wavebound Surge (Level 10).

Wavebound Surge has tiered up to Tier 2, Level 1.

Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 1)

Mana: 5% of total mana

Cast Time: Instant

Cooldown: 18 Seconds

Unleash a surging wave infused with deep oceanic force in a radius surrounding you, dealing heavy damage to all enemies struck and knocking them back. If cast while standing in Rising Current, the wave becomes empowered, significantly increasing its damage, applying a 40% slow for 4 seconds, and inflicting Drenched, reducing enemy resistance to water-based abilities by 10% for 6 seconds.

Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 1) has increased to Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 2).

Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 2) has increased to Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 3).

Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 3) has increased to Wavebound Surge (Tier 2, Level 4).

Rising Current (Level 9) has increased to Rising Current (Level 10).

Rising Current has tiered up to Tier 2, Level 1.

Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 1)

The tide now answers your presence with greater force. Your steps leave behind deeper currents that persist longer and ripple wider. Movement speed is further increased by 10%, and enemies who pass through the waves are slowed more severely. While standing within these currents, you now restore a moderate amount of health and mana over time and gain Tidecaller's Grace, reducing incoming damage by 5%.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 1) has increased to Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 2).

Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 2) has increased to Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 3).

Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 3) has increased to Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 4).

Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 4) has increased to Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 5).

Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 5) has increased to Rising Current (Tier 2, Level 6).

Phantom Harbinger (Level 5) has increased to Phantom Harbinger (Level 6).

Phantom Harbinger (Level 6) has increased to Phantom Harbinger (Level 7).

Spirit's Awareness (Level 4) has increased to Spirit's Awareness (Level 5).

"I can feel how much stronger I become with each fight, especially when there are so many enemies concentrated in the upper levels," he thought. "The growth is tangible. Each swing, each summon, it's all adding up." Colm took a moment to steady his breath, the aftershocks of adrenaline still humming through his limbs.

"I'm surprised Spirit's Awareness leveled up," he muttered aloud. The chaos had been overwhelming. Undead pouring in from every direction, leaving little room for finesse. "Guess I'll just need time to get used to how it works, especially in these situations."

Even as the thought passed through him, the ability flared to life again. He felt a tug, subtle and instinctual, as his phantoms shifted toward a new presence. Not one. Not two. Dozens.

Colm spun around, ready for another wave. But instead of undead, he saw people. Living, breathing people. Relief poured from him as his shoulders sagged.

"The cavalry," he breathed. "The guild finally made it. How long was I fighting?"

The group approached cautiously, weapons drawn. Colm took in his surroundings: ruined ground, shattered corpses, scattered remnant of his summoned harbinger fading into mist.

Then, a voice cut through the murmur. "Colm?"

He turned, eyes locking onto the lone woman stepping forward, ahead of the others. Familiar. Confident.

Without thinking, he activated Analyze, startled by the additional information that now flowed through.

Emma Burke (Level ???; Chronoseer) - Elf

"Emma? From the library?" he thought, heart skipping at the recognition. "Still can't see her level though…"

He opened his mouth to speak, but then a thunderous, guttural roar shattered the moment.

It wasn't just any sound. It was primal, violent, and it came from behind.

Spirit's Awareness pulsed sharply, guiding his body a split second before his mind could catch up. Colm dropped low, just as the air behind him shredded with force. A massive shape twisted through the space he had narrowly escaped, then slammed into him anyway, sheer momentum overriding his dodge. The impact ripped him off his feet, flinging him like a ragdoll through a row of crumbling ruins. Stone shattered. Dust erupted. The world spun in a blur of noise and debris as his body crashed through the wreckage.

He hit the ground hard, bouncing through shattered stone. Pain bloomed, but before he could rise, an immense pressure crushed down on his chest.

"You killed them all, you bastard."

The voice was broken, hoarse, barely human.

"Do you even know how many you slaughtered?"

Colm gasped for breath, each inhale a jagged rasp. His limbs trembled under the creature's grip, unimaginable strength pressing him into the rubble. His mind raced, thoughts spiraling.

"Not again…"

His eyes shifted toward his left arm. "Not again!" he screamed inwardly, panic rising like bile.

He looked up and froze.

The thing pinning him down had patches of flesh that hung loose, peeling away in sagging sheets of rot. Its eyes burned, not with thought, but with madness and pain. Yet what struck Colm most wasn't the decay. It was the size. The creature towered above him, easily two heads taller, its hulking form eclipsing the light.

With desperation flooding his limbs, Colm triggered Wavebound Surge. A torrent of crashing water erupted around him in a spiraling burst, hurling the decaying figure back through the dust.

Coughing, he scrambled to his feet, blood in his mouth and rage in his eyes.

"Let's see what you are."

He activated Analyze, eyes narrowing as new data streamed in.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.